Why did you decide to study Engineering?
The variety within Chemical and Process Engineering (CAPE) was very appealing. It’s incredibly broad because you’ve got both the chemical side and the process side, and the variety within each of them alone is huge. You get to do something different every day and it gives me so many options for career paths.
Pretty much everything that’s commercially produced has a process, so I can go into all sorts of different industries.
What do you want to do when you finish your degree?
I’d like to go into process engineering and operations, possibly overseeing a chemical plant. Even when making something small, the whole process needs to be overseen to ensure everything runs smoothly and optimally. I think it’s a really interesting role because you can see the big picture of the whole process, but you get to work with the smaller, individual parts.
I'm minoring in Bioprocess, so I’d like to explore industries that utilise bioprocessing, but I have so many choices available to me.
Do you feel like your studies are preparing you well?
I think CAPE is one of the best cohorts to prepare you for the industry, as all of our classes are incredibly practical. You're doing coursework that you can see will apply within a real-life application. It’s preparing me for the industry right away, instead of having a bunch of theoretical knowledge and only pulling it together in the last year. The degree is really well designed so that you can see how it can be applied within a future career.
What do you like most about your studies?
I love the labs; they’re both theoretical and very practical, so you’re learning the content while seeing how it applies in real life. And the variety is really cool.
We got to go into the University’s boiler and take measurements and perform calculations to determine how they generate enough heat for the University. We also visited a brewery where we helped make the beer, eventually drinking it too.
What are your lecturers like?
You get to know your lecturers quite well in CAPE. They're really supportive and you can see that they truly want you to do well and are looking out for you. I appreciate that they care about their students and work together to try to spread out workloads.
Are you doing any internships?
This summer, I was given the opportunity to work at Waitaki Biosciences within their research and development team, contributing to the development of new products that can be commercially produced.
I’m looking forward to applying my theoretical knowledge and learning from professionals who have been in the industry for years, and hopefully getting a good taste of the working field.
What do you like about being a student in Christchurch?
My parents and I moved here from South Africa for a better quality of life, with more opportunities for tertiary education. Beyond its excellence in Engineering, I chose UC because Christchurch provides access to nature that you can’t get in other cities. It brings me so much joy to see the beautiful landscapes, and the South Island offers such variety. I can go to the ocean or drive two hours and be surrounded by the mountains.
What's your favourite thing about the UC student experience?
The UCSA is great; it’s so good for students to have someone advocating for them. People are open to making friends and the University is supportive of all their students and wants them to do well. Students are keen to find people with similar interests, and clubs make it easier to do that.
Are you involved in any clubs?
I’m part of Women in Engineering, UC Aerospace, and ENSOC – as I should be as an engineer!
I’m also in the Social Golf Society, and UC Girls Outdoors is one of my favourite clubs. It encourages women to get involved in the outdoors, whether that’s skiing, biking, or hiking. It’s a really cool initiative to get females out there and connecting with each other, and it’s a great way to meet like-minded people.
How you've seen yourself grow since you started at UC?
I've grown socially, becoming more open and willing to try new things and meet new people. Uni is a really good place to do that because they provide you with those opportunities. In the past, I’ve struggled to find a work-life balance, but I've learned to give myself time away from studies, which is truly a valuable lesson.
Any advice for future students?
My biggest piece of advice would be that work-life balance is really important. Be aware that you’re surrounding yourself with people who are really smart, so you might feel imposter syndrome if you’re struggling a bit.
But at the end of the day, engineering is a social degree and connecting with people in your cohort not only helps you with your studies but also builds a sense of community.
Would you recommend UC?
Absolutely. The entire campus is in one spot, so you have everything you need right here – the gym, library, lecture halls, cafes and the Foundry bar.
And university helps you grow and evolve. It can be really powerful to connect with people and make lifelong friends, and I don’t see how I would have done that if I hadn’t come to UC. There is such a diverse range of people, and I can truly say I've met some of the best people of my life here. If you're willing to try, you can find your niche.
Sum up your UC experience in three words.
Transformative. Eventful. Challenging.
